High school football: T-Birds not perfect, but still team to beat

PROVO — Unlike last year's Timpview football team, a team that had no kinks in its armour whatsoever, this year's Thunderbirds squad has a few holes to fill and a few questions to answer.

Mainly, the T-Birds lost a good share of their offensive starters and most of their weapons. Several players are fighting for time at quarterback, running back and receiver. The good side of that problem is it's probably going to make Timpview's attack a lot more balanced and a little more difficult for opponents to figure out.

"We feel like we're going to be able to spread the ball around more," coach Louis Wong said. "We don't really have that one breakaway guy like we did last year with Mark Ercanbrack, but we have some big receivers who are big targets who can also block pretty well. Having receivers who can block is a big part of what we do offensively."

This year's offensive line is also nowhere near as deep as the one Timpview used to plow over opponents last season. With the likely season-ending shoulder injury to Tui Crighton, the T-Birds have only star D-1 recruit Xavier Su'afilo back. Still, the T-Birds expect to mold the new guys into another outstanding blocking crew.

"It will take this line some time to find its groove. But if they do things like we have the past few years, they're going to be very good," Wong said.

Regardless of whether the offense develops in a strong attack or not, Timpview's defense has been the staple of this team for the past several years. That should again be the case this season. If the schemes that Wong uses to confuse opposing offenses are not enough, the speed and athleticism of his defenders should be.

With BYU-bound Bronson Kaufusi and top-notch Nick Mitchell leading the way, the T-Birds will again have a ferocious pass rush. When opposing quarterbacks do get off a pass they'll then have to worry about returning safeties Chris Badger and Craig Bills. Timpview's linebacker crew will again be very difficult to run against.

"Flat out, our guys can run. They're quick to the ball and they are explosive," Wong said.

Despite the questions marks, the T-Birds are again the team to beat in Region 7 and favorites to win a third-straight 4A state title. But the path might be a little more challenging this time around.

"We might struggle early, but as time goes on I think we'll turn out to be a pretty good team," Wong said. "Our key is to stay healthy. We can't have someone going down. If we don't have guys getting hurt, we have the ability to do what we want to do."

Timpview T-Birds 2008 Season Preview